$20-M grant from UAE to aid Pasig River rehab efforts

The Philippines is seeking a US$20-million grant from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to intensify efforts to clean up the Pasig River system, improve waste management and curb the flow of plastic and organic garbage into surrounding waterways.

The Department of Finance (DOF) has endorsed the proposed assistance to the Office of the President, seeking authority to negotiate an agreement that would finance key components of the Pasig River Restoration Project (PRRP).

Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said the proposed grant would strengthen environmental rehabilitation efforts while improving living conditions in communities surrounding the country’s major waterway.

He thanked the UAE government for its willingness to support the initiative, describing international cooperation as an important component of the country’s efforts to restore vital waterways.

Unlike loans, grants do not require repayment, allowing the government to finance development initiatives without creating additional debt obligations.

The proposed US$20-million assistance, equivalent to approximately ₱1.2 billion, will support the PRRP’s target of reducing plastic and organic waste entering the Pasig River system by 25 percent over five years.

The project will focus on five major interventions, including waste recovery and interception, improved household segregation and collection, capacity-building for informal waste collectors, better waste processing facilities and stricter enforcement against illegal dumping.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen community participation in waste management by providing informal waste collectors with greater support and opportunities to contribute to recovery and recycling activities.

The DOF said negotiations with the UAE government will proceed once the Office of the President grants the necessary authority, with relevant government agencies participating in the discussions.

The proposed partnership forms part of the administration’s broader effort to secure international development assistance for environmental protection and sustainable infrastructure projects.